Dark One Rising (38 page)

“You can’t be outside the walls without escort.”

“Yes, I know. That’s not only what I meant.”

He looked into her face, brushing back a loose curl. “I’m not here because I feel obligated. I’m here because I enjoy your company.”

“Really?”

He laughed again. “Is that so surprising?”

“I guess.”

“Why?”

“Because no one has ever allowed me to be me in such an accepting way before, much less wanting to share in my joys. I’m not used to anyone wanting to spend time with me. And you have given me the freedom to be who I am. No one has ever done this besides Kevaan. Especially not a man, and definitely not a man of nobility.”

“Maybe I’m different. Maybe I’m not the man everyone thinks I am. There was a time when I was joyful and enjoyed the things that didn’t get me in trouble. But taking over a throne when I wasn’t ready and ruling a kingdom takes its toll. I started to lose the boyish exuberance I once had.”

She looked at him and frowned. She didn’t mean to upset him. “Forgive me, Dain, if I was insulting. I didn’t mean to imply that you were incapable of feeling joy for things. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

He reached over again and touched her cheek. “I’m not upset in the least. Don’t feel guilt for pointing out, what up to now, was fact. I’ve been a cad for more years than I want to admit, and I have, up to now, not cared about anything deep in my life, anything with meaning. I was in a daze and am only now realizing that I have many years to make up for. I’m glad that it’s you that has brought me out of my darkness and shown me how many things in life can bring light.”

She was stunned and was only able to stare. His pale blue eyes glowed in the sunlight, and she wanted to get lost inside them. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

She didn’t want him to slip into a melancholy mood, so she changed her tune and decided to dare him to try something invigorating, and a bit naughty. The effects from the wine was causing her senses to be dulled, and she was feeling giddy. She knew that she shouldn’t even suggest what she wanted to do, but she was inebriated, and when she was drunk, she tended to be more wild than normal. If Kevaan found out, or Alek for that matter, they’d be quite distraught. But she wanted to be free, and at this moment when she had him here, alone, her rebellious nature and impropriety went south. The alcohol only deepened the feelings she already had but was afraid to admit, that she wanted him and didn’t care how she got him.

She stood up from the soft grass where they were lying, grabbed his hand, and pulled him up to his feet. She batted her eyes at him and smiled devilishly. “I think I’m in the mood for a swim.”

“What? Now?”

“Yes. A dip in the cool pond will feel good.”

“You can’t swim in that dress.”

“Who said I was going to swim in my clothes?”

He stared at her now, then smiled awkwardly, clearing his throat. “I can’t go swimming in the pond. How would that look if anyone saw us?”

“Since when do you care what people think about you? You said it yourself, it’s too late to save your reputation.”

“Yes, well, I didn’t say I had any plans on tarnishing it further. Alek would have my head.”

“Alek isn’t here.” She pulled him further toward the water.

“If you would like to refresh yourself, I won’t stop you. I will turn my back, and you can splash around all you want. I’ll stand watch.”

“It’s no fun going alone. Come on. Kevaan used to do this with me all the time.”

“Yes, well, Kevaan is your brother, and I would gather that you were probably ten years old at the time. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re no longer ten years old. I, on the other hand,
have
noticed.”

“Please.”

“It wouldn’t be right. Besides,” he cleared his throat again which all of a sudden seemed dry, and looked at her, suddenly dreaming of her pale soft skin wet in the water. “I couldn’t continue to be a gentleman if I gave in to this tempting and dangerous whim. I promised myself, and you, that I would remain a gentleman while you were under my roof. It would be unfair of you to put me in a situation where I would most definitely go back on my word.”

She smiled at him and decided that her teasing should stop. She was taunting him and it wasn’t right. He’d been nothing but a gentleman, and she was falling for him because of it. She decided she shouldn’t do anything to change that. He deserved more.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I got carried away. You’ve been a gentleman, and for that I’m grateful. I guess I have just gotten so comfortable with us that I forgot my place.”

“I’m very glad you’re comfortable with me. I’ve tried hard to make you trust me and I’m glad we can talk about things without inhibitions. I probably deserve a test once in awhile, if nothing else than to make sure my resolve is strong. I can say that I’ll change, but without tests to prove it, it really does mean nothing.”

He suspected that most of her behavior this afternoon was caused from too much ale, and even though he had been surprised, he didn’t think too much more about it. For that reason especially, he wouldn’t do anything she would remember today but would most probably regret tomorrow. He smiled at her and tapped her on the nose. “I think maybe it’s time we go back to the Keep.”

“I’m not ready to go yet.”

“You’ve had a bit too much to drink today, something I suspect is not usual for you. Sleeping it off is probably best, before you do something you might really regret.”

She stood on her toes and leaned in, kissing him on the mouth, her hands resting on his bare chest. He felt the warmth of them on his breeze cooled skin.

He was slow to respond, for the shock had him frozen, but her lips were warm and sweet, and he couldn’t help it. He responded back, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. He let her control the moment and was disappointed when she finally pulled away. She looked up into his blue eyes, her lips swollen from the kiss, her green eyes deep as the grass they stood on.

“Thank you for lunch.”

“You’re welcome, Highness,” he said bowing low. “Why don’t we call it a day. I think you need a nap.”

“I’m not sleepy.”

“You will be in a bit. It would be in your best interest to sleep this off. And no more ale for you for awhile.”

They packed up what remained of lunch and picked up their shoes, carrying everything back up the hill to the Keep where Melenthia retired to bed, dreams of the afternoon in her head.

CHAPTER 23

A
lek had sent word to Mercer to send guards with wagons to the city of Amaris in order to evacuate the remaining citizens and transport them inside the walls of the city. He knew it would take too much time by road, but there were animals and livestock to think about as well. He didn’t know if Mercer could find place for them all, but he knew he couldn’t leave them here. There were infirmed that needed medical attention and older people that wouldn’t be able to survive without proper food and warmth. He hoped that the farmers with any stock left could find place in the fields outside of town.

He spent two days helping the people get loaded on the wagons and another day going over the message he was sending with Maddon to Alban in Pembroke. He felt that sending this lad, after everything he’d been through, into Pembroke alone, was suicide, but the boy insisted he would be fine. The guards were needed to watch over the citizens on their trip up the road. They were sitting on crates of supplies as they talked.

“I don’t feel right sending you off alone.”

“I fought three of the beasts with my own hands. I don’t fear the road alone.”

“It’s not the road I worry about but what travels on it.”

“I have spent weeks cowering in the tunnels under the city. It’s time that I do something to help in this fight.”

“Helping to protect those that cannot protect themselves is not cowering, it’s part of being a solider.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll have the message inside my head, and I won’t talk under penalty of even death.”

“You’re not old enough to declare such oaths. You should be chasing maidens and playing in the streets with friends.”

“My boyhood ended when I watched my family die, when I watched my city burn. I’m no longer a boy; I’m a man, and I will do the job of one. Now let’s go over the message again until I can repeat it back word for word with no hesitation or thought.”

As much as Alek felt this was a bad idea, one he admitted had been his in the first place, he was impressed at the young man’s strength and fortitude.

“Very well, again. You’ll travel by night and stick to the back roads as much as possible. You’ll stop for nothing and talk to no one. You’ll carry word into Pembroke that Fallon and the giants have destroyed Amaris, and we think his next move is to come into Pembroke from the sea in order to get into Boones Ferry easier. A garrison must be set up in Boones Ferry in order to solidify position. We think Fallon’s move will be to infiltrate Boones Ferry in order to march across land and take down the Triple Cities. Once that happens, his path into Aaralyn, and in so saying, to Lachlan Castle will be easy. If Kingswell falls, the castle will fall, and King Randor won’t have a prayer. Do you have all that?”

“Yes.”

“Then repeat it back to me.”

Maddon repeated the message back to Alek without pause, word for word.

“Well, I think you have it now. But, I won’t have you die for this, Maddon. If you’re captured, you’ll tell them you know nothing. You’ll tell them that you were just trying to get into another city because yours was destroyed. You’re young so they should believe you. You won’t get hurt.” He pulled a sword out from a weapons crate and handed it to him. “You know how to use one of these, don’t you?”

“Of course. It was the first thing my grandfather ever taught me, and I was six at the time.”

“Very well,” he said standing, “engarde.”

The boy lifted the sword and sparred with Alek. They went at it for about a half an hour, when Alek finally conceded.

“Well, I’m impressed indeed. Your grandfather was an extremely good teacher. Your form is nearly flawless, and you don’t tire easily. I’m beginning to think my worry is for naught. Anyone trying to capture you will have their hands full.”

Maddon gazed at Alek with pride puffing his chest and straightening his shoulders. He seemed much older than he was, which made Alek sad, before he regarded the youth with fond memory of himself. Alek had been just a half year older than Maddon was now when he took on the job as the kings Bounty Hunter, which seemed so many long years ago. But he felt the same then as Maddon did now. His boyhood was replaced with honor and duty.

Alek looked over at the guard that approached. “Sir, we’re ready to move out. Is there anything you need?”

He looked at Maddon for a moment, then back at the guard. “As a matter of fact, there is. Do you have extra mail in the weapons chest in the cargo wagon?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Any that would fit the lad?”

The guard looked at Maddon and smiled. “I believe we can dig some up. We should have a leather doublet in there as well.”

“Perfect.”

The guard left. Alek smiled down at Maddon. “If you’re going to do the job of a knight, you should look like one. It’s not official yet, but I doubt there’ll be any balking in the ranks. You’ll be a squire soon enough.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Alek. I’m not a knight or a noble. You don’t have to address me so formal. Besides, I think we’re going to become quick friends, you and I. I haven’t met a child as precocious as you since I met Princess Melenthia many years ago. She too had a stubborn streak about her, and you couldn’t tear her away from anything she wanted to do. She did everything for honor and because she cared about her people.”

“I’ve heard of her. She’s being hunted by Fallon as we speak, is she not?”

“Yes, but she’s safe from him. For the moment anyway.”

“I hope to meet her.”

“I’m sure you will. She’d be most impressed of your bravery and willingness to risk yourself for your neighbors and family. I’m sure you would get along well.”

Maddon smiled; Alek could see a slight flush to his cheeks. Alek could’ve sworn Maddon was embarrassed at the thought of meeting a lovely lady such as Melenthia. Maybe he wasn’t as old as he pretended to be.

Alek ruffled the boy’s hair just when the solider was returning with the mail and helm in his arms, as well as a scabbard and the doublet he promised. He handed the wad to Alek and showed Maddon how to put it on and where the weak spots in the mail were in case he was attacked. He placed the doublet over his shoulders and tied the laces. He then put the helm on the boy’s head and stood back to admire the scene. The mail was slightly looser than it should be, the shoulders not quite even with the boys, and the doublet hung slightly below his hips, but Alek agreed that it would do for now.

He gave Maddon a sack full of coins and tied the supply bag to his saddle strap.

“There’s enough money in there to pay for room and board when needed, and to pay someone for information if they are inclined to offer. You should also have enough in there to buy new supplies if you run out. When you reach Pembroke and give the message to Alban, you stay with him, and he’ll make sure you’re escorted to Eston safely.”